BOX SCORE

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana used a pair of three-run innings to post a 7-3 victory over Southwest Minnesota State Friday afternoon in the opening round of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Augie improves to 42-10 and will play Minnesota State at 4 p.m. at Bowden Field, while SMSU drops to 18-24 and will play Concordia University, St. Paul at 4 p.m. at Sherman Park. The Mustangs will need a win to stay alive in the tournament.

The Vikings pushed in a trio of runs in the first and fourth innings and added another in the fifth to pick up the victory.

Six Mustangs collected one hit; Brittney Hallahan recorded two RBIs for SMSU.

Chelsey Evans suffered the loss in the circle for SMSU, going a complete game and allowing 11 hits and five earned runs. She drops to 3-4.

Augie's Ahley Meyer picked up the win, striking out nine batters to move to 18-3.

Augie got on the board early after Elizabeth Murray slammed a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning to give the Vikings a 3-0 lead.

SMSU would answer in the top of the second inning by scoring a pair of runs. A pair of singles from Amanda Neumann and Kristin Braden and a walk by Amanda Voss loaded the bases for Hallahan, who dropped in a deep double to score two runs. With just one out, Meyer struckout the next two Mustang batters to close the inning.

Following scoreless third and fourth innings, Augie pushed in another three runs in the fourth—using four hits and taking advantage of an SMSU error to do so.

The Vikings added a run in the fifth to move their advantage to 7-2.

Krista Steen hit a solo home run—her sixth of the year— in the top of the sixth, making it a 7-3 contest.

Augie threatened to extend its lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with the bases loaded, but Evans forced a pair flyouts and a groundout to move to the seventh.

The Mustangs were retired in order in the seventh.

Augie's Traci Fransen went 3 for 4 to pace the Vikings.